Released on June 11, 2021, as the second single from her third studio album Planet Her , Doja Cat’s "Need to Know" serves as a masterclass in modern pop world-building. Directed by the duo Miles Cable and AJ Favicchio , the music video transforms a standard night-out narrative into a high-concept, retro-futuristic odyssey that explores themes of sexual agency, technological immersion, and the breaking of earthly taboos. The World of Planet Her
The visual centerpiece of the video is the fictional "Planet Her," a meticulously crafted 3D-animated cityscape that blends brutalist architecture with a sleek, neon-drenched aesthetic reminiscent of Blade Runner and The Fifth Element . Eschewing traditional green screens for practical sets and intricate prosthetics, the production employed a team of 20 to transform Doja and her ensemble into vibrant alien species. Doja Cat herself appears as a blue-tinted extraterrestrial, a look frequently compared by critics to the Star Wars character Aayla Secura. Blurring the Mundane and the Surreal Doja Cat - Need to Know (Official Video)
Lyrically, the song is a "bass-heavy R&B" track that explores themes of mutual understanding and attraction between potential partners. The witty bars—delivered over throbbing bass and seductive synths—emphasize a sense of autonomy and confidence. Critics have noted that the video’s theatricality, from the vibrant club scenes to the futuristic fashion, celebrates a playful understanding of identity that transcends terrestrial boundaries. Released on June 11, 2021, as the second